What dog treats should I avoid?
Many of us are guilty of spoiling our dogs but it’s almost impossible not to. These furry friends are often members of our family and our closest companions. However, no matter how hard it may be, you must give your best feline friend the highest quality doggy treats and do so in the right moderation at all times. Dog treats are supposed to be treats and just that! If you ate ice cream six times a day, there would be some health concerns that come about eventually. Dogs are different in that the wrong treats, and at a high frequency, can also make them ill but much quicker. Maybe, moderation is easier to handle but it is rooting out the treats that are unhealthy and even dangerous treats that is more important for your dogs. Let’s explore the no-go zones below and ensure that your pup can enjoy their occasional treat worry-free.
What dog treats should I avoid?
The general recommended guidance for doggy treats requires that theyshould not account for more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Even if you are giving your dog treats that are perfectly healthy, exceeding this amount puts them at risk of digestive issues or excess weight gain. With this in mind, you mustn’t cut corners, even if the producers of treats do. You need to ensure that you are sourcing healthy dog treats in Australia to ensure the health of your pup. Avoid treats that are too highly processed with artificial flavours and synthetic scents as a starting point. Other product producers will use inexpensive fillers that include water contents, corn, soy, and wheat which are nutritionally incomplete. All of these things are an effort to mask sub-par ingredients and it’s best to stay away from them. This is a go-to list of treats to avoid:
- Treats with “exotic” ingredients
- Synthetic colouring or fragrance on the ingredients list
- Foods that claim the inclusion of cooked or raw bones
- Any treats that contain sugar
- Treats that are high in corn, soy, or wheat
- Treats that lack essential ingredients
- Treats high in preservatives and synthetic ingredients
- Treats with ingredients harmful to your dog
- Treats with artificial sugars
- Treats with fake fruit flavouring
Common dog treats that you should avoid
1. Rawhide chews and bones
Rawhide products are not a sector that is regulated as highly as we would like and that means that they may be made of products that aren’t even safe for consumption. In most cases, the hide products are made of discarded layers of animal skin which aren’t healthy and comprise very little economic or nutritional value. Pet parents may quickly opt for these products because they are cheap, but have you wondered why they stick around for weeks on end. That is because these products are not supposed to be easy to eat which should be a red flag for you.
2. Sugary or sweetened treats
Sugar is a big no-no for all dogs, regardless of age, breed, and health. However, some food producers will put some in there to improve the taste appeal. There is no place for sugar (at least sugars that aren’t natural) in a dog’s diet. Cheap treats and low-quality snacks will pump up the sugar to replace the lack of nutrients to make your dog respond positively when you hand it over. Sugar causes unhealthy weight gainand other negative health effects. This is especially the case for artificial sugars which are typically in peanut butter, a common snack for dogs. Xylitol is poisonous and can cause seizures, clotting problems, and even worse when it comes to your dog, so you need to avoid it completely.
3. Super starchy treats
The doggy treat market is highly competitive but is full of those giving high-protein snacks and those aiming to fabricate nutrition with fillers. Those wishing to cut costs will use inferior quality starch options as fillers to lower production expenses. Avoid treats and foods that contain too much starch because they do not aim to incorporate complex carbs but the useless stuff instead
Treats can make your dog healthier
It is up to you to provide your dog with a healthy lifestyle when it comes to the foods they consume. While this is a great responsibility for any pet parent, it’s all worth it when you see the sheen in your pup’s coat and their lively mood. Good treats help towards good joint support, good nutritional support, and good habits. The first thing you should do is closely examine every ingredient in the product you aim to buy and opt for Australian-made treats with real meat and natural ingredients.